Examkin

Grammatical Structure

902 questions

All types902Multiple choice461Matching13Fill in the blank428
Question 801Question →

Beyond the boundary of the main university campus _____ two state-of-the-art research laboratories financed by the alumni association. Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: lie

Answer

The verb form 'lie' is correct because the subject of the sentence ('two state-of-the-art research laboratories') is plural and follows the verb in an inverted sentence structure.
In sentences with inverted word order introduced by a prepositional phrase of location, the grammatical subject appears after the verb. The true subject of the clause is 'two state-of-the-art research laboratories', which is plural and therefore requires the plural verb 'lie'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure to identify the grammatical subject
The sentence begins with an adverbial prepositional phrase of place ('Beyond the boundary of the main university campus'), indicating an inverted sentence structure where the subject follows the verb.
In English syntax, when a sentence opens with a locative prepositional phrase, the verb frequently precedes the subject.
2
Determine the number (singular or plural) of the true head noun
The subject is 'two state-of-the-art research laboratories', which is plural.
The noun 'campus' is part of the prepositional phrase and is not the subject performing/undergoing the verb.
3
Select the verb form that agrees in number with the plural subject
The plural present tense verb 'lie' correctly agrees with 'laboratories'.
Plural subjects require plural verbs without the '-s' suffix in the simple present tense.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Concord in Inverted Sentence Structures
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 802Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the verb form that correctly satisfies the rules of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the principal administrator nor the senior lecturers willing to compromise on the new academic guidelines during the emergency senate meeting.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb to fill the blank is 'were' (or 'are' in the present tense), because when subjects of different grammatical numbers are connected by 'neither... nor...', the verb agrees in number with the subject closest to it ('senior lecturers').
When compound subjects are linked by correlative conjunctions like 'neither... nor...', the verb must agree in number with the subject closest to it. In this sentence, the plural noun 'senior lecturers' is adjacent to the verb, requiring the plural verb 'were' (or 'are').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the compound subjects and the connecting structure.
The subject phrase contains a singular noun ('the principal administrator') and a plural noun ('the senior lecturers') joined by the correlative conjunction 'neither... nor...'.
Correlative conjunctions require applying the rule of proximity concord.
2
Determine which noun determines the verb agreement.
The plural noun 'senior lecturers' is immediately adjacent to the verb blank.
Under proximity concord, the verb must match the number of the noun closest to the verb position.
3
Select the correct plural verb form.
The plural past verb 'were' (or present tense 'are') correctly agrees with 'senior lecturers'.
Using a plural verb ensures proper grammatical agreement with the nearer subject.

Key Concept

Proximity Concord with Correlative Conjunctions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 803Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the grammatically correct form of the verb in the blank space.

Fill in the blanks below

The safety officer instructed the technicians to inspect the emergency valves daily lest the cooling system during peak operations.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct form to fill the blank is 'fail' or 'should fail'.
The conjunction 'lest' (meaning 'for fear that' or 'to avoid the risk of') requires either the present subjunctive form (the bare infinitive 'fail') or 'should' followed by the bare infinitive ('should fail'). Present indicative, past indicative, or alternative future modals are grammatically invalid in this construction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conjunction introducing the subordinate clause.
The subordinate clause is introduced by the conjunction 'lest', which expresses a precaution against an undesirable event.
The conjunction 'lest' dictates specific rules of mood and modal usage in English grammar.
2
Apply the verb form rule governing clauses introduced by 'lest'.
In formal English grammar, 'lest' requires the present subjunctive mood (the bare infinitive form 'fail') or the modal auxiliary 'should' combined with the bare infinitive ('should fail').
Standard indicative forms (such as 'fails', 'failed', or 'will fail') cannot be used in a clause introduced by 'lest'.

Key Concept

Subjunctive mood after 'lest'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 804Question →

Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence below?

"The managing director declared that he would rather the executive committee ______ the proposal at last week's session instead of deferring the decision."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: had approved

Answer

The correct form is 'had approved'.
When the structure 'would rather + subject' refers to a past action (indicated here by 'at last week's session'), the verb must be in the past perfect tense ('had approved') to express an unfulfilled past preference or regret.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure following the preference expression 'would rather'.
The expression 'would rather' is followed by a distinct subject ('the executive committee').
When 'would rather' is followed by a clause with a subject, the verb must take a subjunctive/unreal past tense form.
2
Identify the time reference of the action in the clause.
The phrase 'at last week's session' clearly indicates a past time reference.
Time markers dictate whether past simple or past perfect is required.
3
Select the verb tense corresponding to an unrealized past preference.
'would rather + subject + past perfect' is the required formula for past unreal situations.
The past perfect form 'had approved' correctly conveys that the approval did not happen in the past.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Tense with 'Would Rather'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 805Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the form of the verb that correctly satisfies the rules of grammatical concord. Which word correctly fills the blank?

Fill in the blanks below

A list of eligible candidates, alongside their qualifications and credentials, submitted to the board yesterday.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form to complete the sentence is 'was'.
The correct answer is 'was' because the true subject of the clause is the singular noun 'list'. Parenthetical expressions introduced by 'alongside' do not form a compound subject, so the verb remains singular. Additionally, the past time indicator 'yesterday' necessitates the past tense form 'was'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary grammatical subject of the sentence.
The main subject is the singular noun phrase 'A list'.
Phrases introduced by quasi-conjunctions or prepositions such as 'alongside', 'as well as', 'together with', or 'in addition to' are parenthetical modifiers and do not pluralize the head subject.
2
Determine the correct verb number and tense required by the sentence context.
The singular subject 'A list' requires a singular past-tense verb ('was') to agree with the temporal adverb 'yesterday'.
Singular subjects require singular verbs regardless of any intervening plural nouns, such as 'candidates' or 'credentials'.

Key Concept

Quasi-conjunction Concord (Parenthetical phrases introduced by 'alongside' do not alter subject number)
Question 806Question →

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct verb form.

Fill in the blanks below

If the board of directors notified of the impending deficit earlier, they would have restructured the investment portfolio before the market crash.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

had been
The sentence expresses an unfulfilled past condition (third conditional). Because the main clause contains 'would have restructured', the conditional 'if' clause must take the past perfect passive auxiliary 'had been' before the participle 'notified'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural pattern of the conditional sentence.
The main clause features 'would have restructured', which identifies the sentence as a third conditional (unreal past condition).
A third conditional sentence requires a past perfect form in the condition clause to correspond with 'would have + past participle' in the main clause.
2
Determine the appropriate voice and tense for the blank.
The blank requires the past perfect passive form 'had been' to pair with the past participle 'notified'.
The subject 'the board of directors' receives the action of being notified (passive voice) in an unfulfilled past situation (past perfect).

Key Concept

Third Conditional Tense and Aspect Agreement
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 807Question →

Which of the following verb phrases correctly completes the sentence below?

"No sooner _______ than the emergency response team ordered an immediate evacuation of the coastal district."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: had the meteorologist detected the storm

Answer

had the meteorologist detected the storm
The correct option accurately applies subject-auxiliary inversion ('had the meteorologist') alongside the past perfect tense ('detected'). When a sentence begins with the negative adverbial 'No sooner', the auxiliary verb must precede the subject, and the earlier completed past event requires the past perfect tense.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure initiated by the negative correlative adverbial 'No sooner'.
Identify that placing 'No sooner' at the beginning of a sentence requires subject-auxiliary inversion.
In formal English, fronted negative or restrictive adverbials necessitate placing the auxiliary verb before the subject.
2
Determine the proper tense sequence for events occurring sequentially in the past.
Establish that the past perfect tense ('had' + past participle) must express the earlier completed action.
The detection of the storm occurred prior to the subsequent past action ('ordered an immediate evacuation').
3
Select the verb phrase satisfying both subject-auxiliary inversion and past perfect tense requirements.
The phrase 'had the meteorologist detected the storm' fulfills both grammatical rules.
It places the auxiliary verb 'had' before the subject 'the meteorologist' and uses the past participle 'detected'.

Key Concept

Inversion and Tense Sequence with Negative Adverbials
Question 808Question →

Complete the sentence by supplying the appropriate present tense form of the verb 'to be' that satisfies the rules of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

The principal researcher, together with her laboratory assistants, currently conducting fieldwork in the Niger Delta region.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

is
The correct verb is 'is' because the grammatical subject of the sentence is the singular noun phrase 'The principal researcher'. Phrases introduced by prepositional qualifiers like 'together with' are parenthetical and do not alter the singular agreement requirement of the main subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head subject of the sentence.
The principal subject is 'The principal researcher', which is singular.
Expressions introduced by quasi-conjunctions such as 'together with', 'as well as', or 'in addition to' do not form a compound plural subject.
2
Select the verb form that agrees with the singular subject in the present tense.
The singular present tense verb required is 'is'.
Grammatical concord mandates that a singular subject takes a singular verb regardless of intervening plural nouns in parenthetical phrases.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Parenthetical Prepositional Phrases
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 809Question →

Complete the sentence below by providing the form of the verb 'to have' that correctly satisfies the rules of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

More than one applicant submitted the required documentation before the midnight deadline.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

has
The correct verb is 'has' because the expression 'more than one' followed immediately by a singular countable noun ('applicant') grammatically governs a singular verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the subject structure of the sentence.
The noun phrase acting as the subject begins with the formulaic quantifier 'More than one' followed by the singular noun 'applicant'.
Identifying the head quantifier and head noun determines the concord agreement rule to apply.
2
Apply the grammatical concord rule governing 'more than one + singular noun'.
In standard English grammar, the construction 'more than one' followed by a singular countable noun strictly requires a singular verb, despite its semantically plural implication.
Syntactic form takes precedence over semantic notion in 'more than one' constructions.
3
Supply the correct present tense singular form of the verb 'to have'.
The singular verb form is 'has'.
'Has' agrees in number with the singular subject structure.

Key Concept

Concord with 'More than one'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 810Question →

Read the sentence below and choose the word that correctly completes it in accordance with the rules of subject-verb concord.

'The sudden outbreak of waterborne diseases in the surrounding rural communities _______ traced to contaminated underground water sources.'

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: was

Answer

The singular auxiliary verb 'was' correctly completes the sentence.
The head noun of the subject noun phrase is the singular noun 'outbreak'. The intervening prepositional phrases ('of waterborne diseases' and 'in the surrounding rural communities') contain plural nouns, but these do not change the number of the head subject. Therefore, the singular verb 'was' is required to satisfy subject-verb agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true subject of the clause
The main subject noun phrase is 'The sudden outbreak of waterborne diseases in the surrounding rural communities', where the head noun is the singular noun 'outbreak'.
Prepositional phrases such as 'of waterborne diseases' and 'in the surrounding rural communities' modify the head noun but do not alter its grammatical number.
2
Determine the required verb number
Since the head noun 'outbreak' is singular, it requires a singular past-tense verb.
Basic subject-verb concord dictates that a singular subject must take a singular verb.
3
Select the correct option
The singular verb form 'was' provides proper grammatical agreement.
The forms 'were', 'have been', and 'are being' are plural verb structures resulting from the error of proximity.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Concord and the Error of Proximity
Estimated Time:45s
Question 811Question →

Match each underlined noun phrase in the sentences below to its corresponding syntactic function within the sentence.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

The school authority appointed Musa class captain.
The old wooden bridge collapsed during the heavy rainfall.
The patient needed immediate medical attention.

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'The school authority appointed Musa class captain' matches Object complement; 'The old wooden bridge collapsed during the heavy rainfall' matches Subject of the verb; 'The patient needed immediate medical attention' matches Direct object of the verb.
In the sentence regarding Musa, 'class captain' defines the role given to the object 'Musa' (object complement). In the sentence regarding the bridge, 'The old wooden bridge' precedes and carries out the action 'collapsed' (subject). In the sentence regarding the patient, 'immediate medical attention' is what was needed (direct object).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the grammatical position of each bolded noun phrase in relation to the main verb of the sentence.
Identify whether the phrase acts as the performer of the action, the receiver of the action, or an element describing an object.
Syntactic function is determined by the noun phrase's relationship to other clause elements.
2
Match each phrase to its precise function label.
'class captain' -> Object complement; 'The old wooden bridge' -> Subject of the verb; 'immediate medical attention' -> Direct object of the verb.
This provides the complete and correct alignment of noun phrases to their functions.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases
Question 812Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct form of the verb in the blank space.

Fill in the blanks below

By the time the annual migration of the endangered storks ends next week, the conservation team their movement along the river basin for three consecutive months.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form is 'will have been tracking' (or 'will have tracked'), which uses the future perfect / future perfect continuous tense.
The sentence features a time clause introduced by 'By the time' referencing a future event ('ends next week') alongside a phrase denoting duration ('for three consecutive months'). In English grammar, an action that will continue up to or be completed before a specified future time is expressed using the future perfect continuous ('will have been tracking') or future perfect ('will have tracked') tense.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the temporal markers in the sentence.
The time expression 'By the time... next week' establishes a future point of reference, while 'for three consecutive months' specifies the duration of the action.
Combining a future deadline with a period of ongoing duration requires a tense that conveys completion or continuous activity prior to that future moment.
2
Select the correct tense and aspect.
The future perfect continuous form ('will have been tracking') or future perfect form ('will have tracked') accurately aligns with both time markers.
Other tenses fail to bridge the duration of three months with the future point of completion next week.

Key Concept

Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous Tenses
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 813Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence below?

The project manager emphasized that the team needed modern __________ to complete the construction on time.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: equipment

Answer

The option containing 'equipment' is the correct choice because 'equipment' is an uncountable noun in Standard English.
The correct answer utilizes the uninflected form 'equipment'. In English grammar, 'equipment' is a mass (uncountable) noun, meaning it does not accept a plural '-s' inflection or direct singular indefinite articles.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target noun class
The target noun 'equipment' belongs to the category of non-count (uncountable) mass nouns.
Uncountable nouns in English refer to concepts, materials, or collections that are not individualized as separate countable items.
2
Apply morphological and determiner rules for non-count nouns
Non-count nouns cannot take the plural suffix '-s' nor can they take indefinite articles ('a'/'an') directly.
Plural inflection '-s' and indefinite articles require countable singular/plural distinctions.
3
Select the option that maintains correct non-count noun form
The plain form 'equipment' correctly functions as the head of the noun phrase after the modifier 'modern'.
It complies with standard grammatical rules governing non-count noun usage.

Key Concept

Countability Rules for Non-Count (Uncountable) Nouns
Question 814Question →

Read the sentence below and choose the verb form that grammatically completes the expression:

"The chief magistrate declared that it was high time the municipal council _______ the dilapidated bridge to avert a major disaster."

Which verb form correctly fills the blank space?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: repaired

Answer

The correct verb form is 'repaired'.
The expression 'it is high time' (or its reported speech form 'it was high time') when followed by a subject noun phrase ('the municipal council') takes a past subjunctive verb form, which is morphologically identical to the simple past tense ('repaired'). This structure highlights that an event is overdue.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory structural expression in the clause
The clause contains the fixed expression 'it was high time' (a past-shifted variant of 'it is high time').
Recognizing special idiomatic structures determines the required verb mood and tense.
2
Apply the rule governing unreal past / subjunctive expressions with 'it is high time'
When 'it is high time' or 'it is time' is followed directly by a subject noun phrase ('the municipal council'), the verb that follows must take the simple past tense form to indicate an action that should already have been performed.
Grammatical convention in Standard English requires a past tense form to denote present/past unreal urgency.
3
Select the option containing the simple past form
'repaired' is the simple past form of the verb 'repair'.
Only 'repaired' fulfills the unreal past requirement.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Tense with 'It is high time'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 815Question →

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb that satisfies the rules of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

The number of candidates applying for the national scholarship increased remarkably this academic session.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

has
The expression 'the number of' specifies a single numerical quantity and strictly requires a singular verb ('has'). The plural noun 'candidates' acts as an object of the preposition 'of' and does not govern the verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head word of the subject phrase.
The subject head is the noun phrase 'The number', which is singular.
Under English concord rules, the expression 'the number of' functions as a singular noun phrase requiring a singular verb.
2
Determine the required verb agreement form.
The singular auxiliary verb 'has' must be used with the past participle 'increased'.
The singular head 'number' takes precedence over the intervening plural noun 'candidates'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Concord with 'The number of' versus 'A number of'
Question 816Question →

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the correct plural form of the noun in parentheses.

Fill in the blanks below

The selection panel established strict (criterion) for assessing all candidates seeking the postgraduate scholarship.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct noun form to complete the sentence is 'criteria'.
The noun 'criterion' is a Greek loanword that forms its plural by replacing the ending '-on' with '-a', resulting in 'criteria'. The context describes multiple standards established by a panel, requiring the plural form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the base noun and its linguistic origin.
The noun 'criterion' is a Greek loanword ending in '-on'.
Nouns borrowed directly from Greek ending in '-on' follow classical pluralization rules rather than standard English rules.
2
Apply the appropriate pluralization rule.
Replacing the singular suffix '-on' with the plural suffix '-a' yields 'criteria'.
The sentence context specifies multiple evaluation standards set by the selection panel, requiring a plural noun.

Key Concept

Irregular Pluralization of Greek Loan Nouns
Question 817Question →

Identify the correct verb tense and aspect required to complete the sentence below.

Fill in the blanks below

The managing director expressed that she would rather the finance officer the quarterly report before yesterday's board meeting.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form is 'had submitted'.
The expression 'would rather' followed by a clause subject (the finance officer) and referring to a completed past time frame ('before yesterday's board meeting') requires the past perfect tense ('had submitted') to express an unfulfilled past wish or unreal past condition.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic structure of the sentence.
The sentence uses the structure 'would rather + subject + clause' expressing an unreal past preference.
When 'would rather' is followed by a subject and refers to a past time period (indicated by 'before yesterday's board meeting'), the past perfect tense is required.
2
Determine the appropriate tense and aspect.
The past perfect form of 'submit' is 'had submitted'.
The past perfect ('had + past participle') expresses a hypothetical or desired situation in the past that did not occur.

Key Concept

Unreal Past with 'would rather'
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 818Question →

In the sentence, "Professor Amina, the lead researcher, presented the breakthrough findings at the annual conference," what is the grammatical function of the noun phrase "the lead researcher"?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Appositive to the subject "Professor Amina"

Answer

Appositive to the subject "Professor Amina"
The correct answer identifies the noun phrase as an appositive because it is placed directly alongside the noun phrase "Professor Amina" to explain, specify, or rename who she is without using a linking verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head noun of the sentence and the main verb
The main subject is "Professor Amina" and the main verb is "presented".
Determining the core clause structure helps locate grammatical roles accurately.
2
Analyze the structural position of "the lead researcher"
The phrase sits between commas directly beside the noun phrase "Professor Amina" to rename and elaborate on her identity.
A noun phrase placed adjacent to another noun to explain or rename it functions as an appositive.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases (Appositives)
Estimated Time:45s
Question 819Question →

Consider the sentence below:

'Each of the newly appointed ambassadors, together with their delegation members, _______ expected to present credentials to the President tomorrow.'

Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence in accordance with the rules of grammatical concord?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: is

Answer

The singular verb 'is' correctly completes the sentence.
The head subject of the sentence is the indefinite pronoun 'Each', which is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb. Intervening phrases introduced by quasi-coordinators like 'together with their delegation members' do not change the grammatical number of the subject. Combined with the future temporal context indicated by 'tomorrow', the singular present verb 'is' correctly completes the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head subject of the sentence
The subject is the indefinite pronoun 'Each'. The phrase 'of the newly appointed ambassadors' is a prepositional modifier.
Indefinite pronouns like 'Each', 'Every', and 'Either' function as singular head subjects regardless of plural nouns inside post-modifying phrases.
2
Analyze intervening quasi-conjunctions
The prepositional phrase 'together with their delegation members' does not alter the grammatical number of the subject.
Expressions introduced by 'together with', 'as well as', or 'alongside' are parenthetical additions and do not form a compound subject.
3
Select the verb form that satisfies singular concord and tense context
The present singular auxiliary verb 'is' is required.
The singular subject 'Each' requires a singular verb, and the future time marker 'tomorrow' aligns with the present passive construction 'is expected'.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Intervening Quasi-Conjunctions
Question 820Question →

Which present tense form of the verb 'to be' correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with the rules of grammatical concord?

Fill in the blanks below

Dr. Adeleke is recognized as one of the distinguished scholars who currently spearheading the renewable energy project.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

are
In the structure 'one of the [plural noun] who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers to the plural noun 'scholars'. Consequently, the relative clause requires the plural verb 'are' to maintain grammatical concord.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the antecedent of the relative pronoun 'who'.
In the construction 'one of the distinguished scholars who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers back to the plural noun antecedent 'scholars', not 'one'.
A relative pronoun introduces a relative clause and takes its grammatical number from its immediate antecedent.
2
Apply the rule of relative clause concord.
Since the antecedent 'scholars' is plural, the verb governed by 'who' must also be plural.
Plural antecedents demand plural verb forms within relative clauses.
3
Select the correct present tense form of the verb 'to be'.
The correct plural present tense form is 'are'.
'Are' agrees in number with the plural relative subject 'who' (standing in for 'scholars').

Key Concept

Relative Clause Concord (One of the [Plural Noun] + Who + Plural Verb)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
PreviousPage 41 / 46Next
Grammatical Structure Practice Questions — JAMB UTME — Page 41 | Examkin